Due to popular demand, we have opened up registration in the Triple Clays Fun Shoot to youth participants. Youth must be experienced shooters and be accompanied by a responsible and experienced adult and have written parent consent.

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Scout Association of Japan has just announced an exchange program to take place in the summer of 2009. This opportunity with Japan has been occurring twice per year recently. Last year at the previous exchange of this type our council was able to send Jordan Orlick as a representative. These exchanges last about 10 days and the cost this year will be about $750 everything included. Each council is able to send just one representative per exchange.

The BSA's Chief Scout Executive, Robert Mazzuca, recently signed an historic agreement with the Saudi Arabian Scout Association that outlines a long term exchange program between the two Scout associations. It was agreed that groups consisting of 24 Scouts and four leaders each will visit between the associations. The aim of the agreement is meeting to reach up to four visits each year.

We are looking for outstanding youth between the ages of 15-18 and leaders that should be considered for a Saudi exchange opportunity and the Japan opportunity. To be considered for nomination to either of these opportunities please contact:

Friday, February 20, 2009

A new world-wide association has recently formed. This association membership is limited to only Scouts and Scouters who have been awarded the top scout rank of the country they were an active Scout (e.g. Eagle Scout in the USA, Fuji Scout in Japan, Tiger Scout in Korea). Former top achiever Girl Scouts and Girl Guides are also welcome.

Objectives:

To strengthen friendship and solidarity through continued relationships amongst top achiever Scouts in the world.

To support and complement the work of the national Scouting organizations.

To conduct regular activities and/or projects so as to foster fellowship amongst members, their families and guests.

To develop networking amongst members for sharing of knowledge and experiences.

If you are interested in joining this association, please fill out the application with as much information as you can. There is no fee for membership.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Sign-ups are now being taken for the High Adventure Team Junior Backpacking Awareness course.

The course is intended for one or two Scouts from each Troop, whether they have backpacked before or not, so that they can help train their Troop learn safe outdoor skills. Most of the primary instructors will be the Scouts who took the course last year.

Both health documents are required at the start of the indoor session. Start making your plans now.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

WLACC has a crew scheduled to go to Philmont this summer that is in needof a crew leader. If there is a qualified trained adult leader who isinterested in leading a council crew, please e-mail Jeff Feldman atjfbf@ix.netcom.com or call him at (818) 535-9494.

Troop 117 is looking for one registered Adult Scouter (21 years or older) to fill an available spot on a crew going to Philmont. The trek will be from August 7-19th. The cost of the expedition is estimated to be $1045 (Philmont cost is $595, estimated airfare and ground transport $450). There is a good possibility for the Troop to subsidize a portion of this cost. Interested persons should be in good physical shape and meet Philmont height and weight requirements. They should also be available for the training hikes that have been scheduled once a month between now and July. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Benson Won.

Do you need community service hours? Well, have I got a fun way you can rack some up...

Sunrise Little League is trying to get ready for their opening season day and need lots of help cleaning up the facility. Sunrise is also dedicated to the kids in the community, and as an organization in our community, we need to rise to the occasion. Sunrise needs help and we are just the ones to lend a helping hand.

When: Sunday, February 22, 2009 @ 10 am - 2 pm

Where: Sunrise Little League (corner of Victory and Winnetka)

What will you need: Class B uniform, and chore tools if you have any: broom and dust pan, rake, gloves, etc.

Sign up sheet will be on the table at the Monday meeting, or contact Bernd Engelmann @ (818) 343-9027.

A Master Educator course is typically five days in length and designed for people who are actively teaching others backcountry skills or providing recreation information to the public.

As of January 2008, there are over 2200 Leave No Trace Masters world wide representing nine countries and 50 U.S. states! This valuable training is recognized throughout the world by the outdoor industry and land management agencies. The profile of our graduates is highly varied from USFS and NPS backcountry rangers to scout leaders, from outdoor retail executives to school teachers, from college outing club members to outfitters and guides.

Successful graduates of the Master Educator course have the ability to train others in Leave No Trace skills and ethics, and can offer Leave No Trace Trainer courses (two-day) and Awareness Workshops (one-day or shorter).

Tuition for the five-day Master Educator course ranges from $500–$830, depending on the course provider and the course location. Every participant on a Master Educator course will receive a one-year membership to Leave No Trace. Partial scholarships are available through Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

This course will fill quickly! Be sure to sign up early in order to ensure your participation.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Troop 550 in Northridge is re-organizing. They have a wonderful new Scoutmaster, Carlos Luna. He has great plans, but his Troop is short on items and funds are extremely low at this time. If anyone out there has some used, or new items on their wish list and you would like to do your Good Turn for the day, please contact Carlos.

It's time us adult scouters left the Scouts at home and had a little quality time together. What better way than to go fishing! We have our 3rd Annual Adult Leaders Fishing trip. We take the outstanding sportfishing boat, the Ranger 85. This is one of the premier fishing vessels on the west coast. We leave Saturday night April 4th at 9 pm and fish Sunday April 5th. We only take 30 people in this 85 foot long boat, so there is a lot of room. The cost is only $140 which includes a comfortable bunk, bait and all the fishing stories you can tell. There is a full hot galley with good quality food. This trip is for those 18 years old or older, no Scouts under 18. Scouters have first preference, but we will consider friends who are non-scouters based on sign-ups.

Last year's trip was unbelievable. Everyone limited out, including limits of Ling Cod with the smallest being 7 lbs! And that's not a fish tale! It is bottom fishing, so no special skills are needed, aside from the ability to have fun and exaggerate your skills and catch. Rods are available for rent and fishing licenses for purchase at the landing. We leave out of Channel Islands Sportfishing at 4151 Victoria Ave., Oxnard, CA 93035.

If you are interested, let us know ASAP - remember, only 30 can go. Spots fill up fast - first paid, first fishing - so get to us quickly. You can reach Paul Oliver at pauloliver1@sbcglobal.net or (818) 321-2699, or Glenn Sartain at (818) 681-8999.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Scouts – Cubs, Boy Scouts, and Venturers – have the opportunity to attend Knife Expo 09 at the Pasadena Convention Center, no charge to Scouts in uniform with adult. This is the oldest and finest knife show in California, with displays of all types of handcrafted and collectible knives. Until you have seen the show, you probably do not really know the variations and artistry of the knife-world. Your pocket knife will never seem the same.

The show includes demonstration of knife making by an extra-ordinary group of knife makers, including forging, grinding (which includes not only shaping but also sharpening), and electro-chemical etching (which allows the makers to identify their knives). As scouts and Scouters, we all use knives – this is an opportunity to see the next step beyond a "mere" pocket knife and talk to those who actually make the knives.

The High Adventure Team needs to know if the council HAT graduates are interested in an Advanced Backpacking course this April. The training course could be a Friday night to Sunday afternoon course, and then the participants would be required to plan, lead and complete a seven-day, six night backpacking trip for their Scouts within eighteen months. Prerequisites are Basic Backpacking, Winter Awareness and Desert Awareness and you would earn the legendary, near-mythical Advanced Backpacking stripe.* HAT members who have been staff instructors for the other course will be taking the course and earning the stripe.

If you are seriously interested in taking this course before summer and qualified to do so, e-mail Vern and Tamber ASAP. We need to know if we can pull a course together, so if you are interested, please do not delay in responding.

*How mythical? No one in WLACC Hat has the stripe besides Leo Ferns, Ralph Seifert and Bob Davison. Tamber does not have it, Vern does not have it, Dave does not have it. We will have to take the course from Verdugo Hills HAT team because no one of the regular staff instructors at WLACC HAT is qualified to teach the course until we take the course.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Ride On (Therapeutic Horsemanship) will be celebrating 15 years of service to the disabled and the community, on Saturday March 28 at their new ranch and permanent home in Chatsworth.

Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. Enjoy a free pancake breakfast and tour the new facility. A ribbon and cake-cutting ceremony will take place at 11 am to celebrate 50,000 lessons given and the promise of many years of service to come at Ride On's new ranch.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Troop 415 is inviting all Webelo II Scouts to join us for the Webelos Invitational Camping Weekend. This is an opportunity for Webelo IIs to check out what Troop 415 has to offer and receive information for parents in selecting a Boy Scout Troop for your son and yourself to join. This a great way to see Troop 415 in action, get help in making the transition into Boy Scouts, and enjoy a great camping weekend. You and your Webelo Scout can come up for the day (Saturday) or spend the night.

Contact: Paul Brown – (818) 341-8822 or pbrown@pacbell.net

When:February 7th and 8th, 2009 In keeping with Scout Safety and Hazard Weather Guidelines, the event has been postponed. The new date and location will be February 28th and March 1, 2009, at Malibu Creek State Park. This changes our timetable a bit for Check-in, Flag Salute, and Activity 1, but provides us with more time with you scouts. The flyer has been updated. Also, we need you and your Webelo Scout to attend our Feb. 18th Troop Meeting for menu planning with the Patrols.

Cost: Cost is $10.00 per scout and per parent (remember a parent/guardian must attend with each scout).

Where:Sage Ranch which is located high in the northwestern Simi Hills between the San Fernando and Simi Valleys at the Los Angeles-Ventura county line, 625-acre Sage Ranch Park provides some of the most beautiful and easily accessible trails in the area. Park features include massive sandstone rock formations, expansive views, ample parking, an outdoor amphitheater with views of the spectacular outcroppings, picnic tables, restrooms and drinking fountains. Malibu Creek State Park, 1925 Las Virgenes Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302

If you have any questions, please contact me at the phone number or email above.

Exciting news for February! Due to the delivery of enormous amounts of product following our event in Washington DC last month, we have scheduled volunteer days throughout the month of February for sorting and prep work:

WeekdaysWe will continue our normal weekday schedule for the rest of this month (through February 27th):

Monday and Friday: 9 am - 4 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 12 noon - 4 pm

WeekendsSaturday and Sunday February 14-15: 9 am - 4 pm each day

You do not need to sign up for shifts for weekdays or weekends; just show up whenever you are available.

Please bring snacks/lunch with you. We will provide water.

We will have tasks for everyone (standing, seated, easy on back, hard on back)!

As usual, children 12 years and older are welcome to volunteer at the armory; those ages 12-16 must be accompanied by an adult (who can drive in case of emergency) while on the premises. We will make no exceptions. We respectfully request that you do not bring children under 12 years, as we hate to tell them they must leave... but we will.

Community Service credit will be available on all days. Students: The February 14-15 weekend is a great time to earn your hours for this semester! To do so, you must sign in and out on the Community Service forms each day that you work, and you must collect the Certificate of Completed Hours when you leave.

We hope you will join us for as much time as you have available this month!

The Armory is located at:17330 Victory Blvd.Van Nuys, CA 91406corner of Victory and Louise

Please bring some form of identification with you.

Thank you for your commitment and service to our military and Operation Gratitude!

Troop 911's Webelos Weekends are designed to introduce Webelos Scouts and their parents to the thrilling Scouting adventures ahead and to help them make the transition into Boy Scouting exciting. The weekend is filled with fun activities, intriguing demonstrations, and plenty of outdoor excitement. Our theme this year is Cycling in the Great Outdoors.

Troop 911 is inviting all 1st and 2nd year Webelos to attend. Troop 911 is a boy-led troop. Unlike Cub Scouts, the boys make the decisions and provide the leadership. Adults are there to give advice and to assure safety. The Webelos Scouts will be assigned to Patrols for the weekend so that they can experience a model Boy Scout Troop campout led by experienced Boy Scouts. Parents will be given an orientation on Boy Scouting, have a relaxing weekend campout, and have a chance to meet many of Troop 911's adult leaders, while their Webelos participate in troop activities.